Cricket is the original gentlemen’s game but as the sport's governing bodies tried to entice more spectators through the gates, new shorter formats were introduced such as the one day internationals and Twenty Twenty games which last just 20 overs per team and encourage big hitting.
To start playing cricket you'll need all sorts of equipment from the required clothing to the bat and protective gear. Some of the apparatus need not cost the earth and other bits require a little bit more investment and we'll show you which is which.
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One of the few vital pieces of equipment for a game of cricket, the quality of a bat can make a noticeable difference to the performance of the batsmen so spending wisely dictates that you put a fair chunk of your budget into a good bat.
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You can't play cricket without one but since they get battered around a lot during a match it is important to go for a decent one which will not degrade too quickly. You will probably buy quite a few of these over the course of a season and we can show you the best places to go.
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With a cricket ball heading towards you at great speeds, a cricket helmet is one piece of equipment you cannot afford to go without. Most helmets will give you the level of protection required so it is possible to save a bit of money here.
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Both fielders and batsmen are likely to do lot of running and to maintain good grip while protecting your toes from ball strikes you need to wear the correct shoes. There are a variety of shoes on offer, some more expensive than others and we have rated them for you.
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Standing behind the stumps every ball is the wicketkeeper and to give him the best chance of catching the ball (regardless of whether the batsmen has hit it or not) he wears gloves. These are pretty standard pieces of equipment and you needn't spend the world on them.
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Further protection in the form of pads are required in almost every cricket league across the country and making sure yours fit well is important to give you the flexibility with the bat and ease of running. That said, expensive pads are unlikely to give you any more protection or freedom.
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If you just want to start playing cricket in your leisure time and just want the basics to get you going, a cricket set is for you. They will generally contain bat, ball, stumps and some of the protective gear and while it might not be the most high end stuff, it does the job.
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No point in spending a lot of money with regards to the stumps, as long as they are the correct height and are durable enough to be hit into the ground many times then this is enough.
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Carrying all of the many pieces of cricket equipment around requires a very large bag and the cricket manufacturers have come up with custom cricket bags which can easily contain all the things you need for a game of cricket. Quality bags will last longer but if they are not to be used too regularly you can save some money here.
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If you are serious about the game of cricket and wish to play in a local team you will be required to supply your own whites to wear and while some can be expensive, the cheaper end of things can look just as good.
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While you are fielding it is important for you to be able to get a good view of the ball when it comes in your direction and hats have been designed for fielders to block out the sun while not obscuring your peripheral sight.
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Cricket Batting Gloves |
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Different to the wicketkeeper gloves discussed above, batting gloves are shaped to allow a good grip on the bat while providing plenty of padding across the fingers which often face impacts.
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Cricket Batting Pads |
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Just another name for the cricket pads described earlier, the same applies here in that you do not need to spend a lot to get sufficient protection.
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Cricket Cap
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While most cricketers prefer a hat which gives 360 degrees protection from the sun, there are some who prefer a cap style to wear and we can point you in the right direction for the cheapest caps around.
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These additions to the bat can prevent damage at the bottom and lengthen the life of any standard bat. For this reason, the investment in one of these is well worth it and they pay for themselves very quickly indeed.
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Wicketkeeping Gloves |
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We mentioned cricket gloves above and the ones which are used by the wicketkeeper are unique in their own rights. Buying the right gear for your positions is important and these gloves are vital for wicketkeepers.
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Not all pad sets will include these arm protectors but they cost fairly little and so we would definitely recommend buying one for the extra protections it gives, especially against fast bowlers.
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